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escape any command aliases

Terminal - escape any command aliases
\[command]
2009-02-11 19:34:21
User: wwest4
67
Up
Down
escape any command aliases

e.g. if rm is aliased for 'rm -i', you can escape the alias by prepending a backslash:

rm [file] # WILL prompt for confirmation per the alias

\rm [file] # will NOT prompt for confirmation per the default behavior of the command

Add to favourites | Report as malicious

Alternatives

There are 4 alternatives - vote for the best!

Terminal - Alternatives
\foo
2011-09-23 11:00:35
User: axii
Tags: alias
18
Up
Down
bypass any aliases and functions for the command

A simple directive which disables all aliases and functions for the command immediately following it. Shortcut for the bash built-in 'command' - "command linefoo".

Think, {sic}...

Show sample output | Comments (1) | Add to favourites | Report as malicious
\ls
2012-01-05 00:35:49
User: libdave
6
Up
Down
temporarily override alias of any command

say, someone has aliased ls to 'ls --color=always' and you want to temporarily override the alias (it does not override functions)

Show sample output | Comments (2) | Add to favourites | Report as malicious

Know a better way?

If you can do better, submit your command here.

What others think

This is particularly useful for 'rm', which many distributions insist on aliasing to 'rm -i' (ignoring the bad habits that this inculcates).

Comment by mkc 226 weeks and 6 days ago

I usually type in the full path to the command to make sure I'm using both the unaliased command and also to make sure I'm not launching something out of /usr/local/bin/. Using full paths to commands is also a good habit for any scripts that may run with elevated privileges.

Comment by Mozai 74 weeks and 5 days ago

NOTE: Any type of quoting will work: backslash, single quote, double quote.

The Bash Reference Manual says "The first word of each simple command, if unquoted, is checked to see if it has an alias."

Thus, these will all execute the real unaliased rm command:

\rm file 'r'm file "r"m file 'rm' file "rm" file command rm file

The last example doesn't rely on quoting. Moreover, it will execute the rm command even if your defined rm as a function.

Comment by Robin 74 weeks and 5 days ago

Why not use

command ...

or

builtin ...

... to make the selection with Bash? This also circumvents aliases and is safe for use in scripts.

Comment by assarbad 69 weeks ago

Many distributions insist on 'rm -i' only as a root, and it's done for a good reason

Comment by OutputLogic 56 weeks and 1 day ago

Your point of view

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